Uruguay's Independence Day

August 25th is Uruguay's National Day and marks Uruguay's independence from Brazil in 1825. Know as 'Día de la Independencia', this day is celebrated as a public holiday in the Oriental Republic of Uruguay.

The Story

The region now known as Uruguay lay on the Eastern bank ('Banda Oriental') of the River Plate and had passed through English, Spanish, Portuguese and Brazilian control in a short period at the start of the nineteenth century.. When Brazil gained its independence from Portugal in 1822., Banda Oriental had become a province of Brazil.

On August 25th 1825, following a short period of rebellion, Uruguay declared its independence from Brazil. This instigated the Argentina-Brazil War. The conflict lasted until August 1828, when the British negotiated a resolution that led to Brazil recognizing Uruguay's independence.

Why is this important to Tango? 

We celebrate, because Uruguay had a profound influence on tango - the roots of tango and many great orquesta leaders and musicians were from Uruguay.

Tango originated in the 1880s along the River Plata, the natural border between Argentina and Uruguay, which separates the two capital cities Buenos Aires and Montevideo. Some historians say that the Tango rhythm has its roots in the poor areas of Montevideo c. 1880, that tango was "born in the San Felipe Academy [Montevideo], a Montevidean warehouse used for public dances."

These famous tango musicians are from Uruguay:

• Francisco Canaro, one of the most prolific and influential tango orchestra leaders
• Horacio Ferrer, Uruguayan poet who contributed the lyrics to many important tango songs.
• Malena Muyala, contemporary Uruguayan singer-songwriter who specializes in tango music
• Manuel Campoamor
• Enrique Saborido
• Julio Sosa, "El Varón del Tango or "The Man of Tango"
• Bajofondo Tango Club, a contemporary tango music group made up of seven members from Uruguay and Argentina.
• Famous tango singer Carlos Gardel is most closely associated with Argentina where he grew up and became famous, but in 1920 he became a legal citizen of Uruguay, saying he was born in 1887 in Tacuarembó, Uruguay, although there are no records that Gardel never lived in Uruguay.

Even the famous tango La Cumparsita which is often traditionally played as the last song of a milonga, was composed in 1919 by the Uruguayan musician Gerardo Matos Rodríguez. 

So tango dancers have many reasons to celebrate Uruguay on its independence day, August 25th. 

¡Salud Uruguay!